Nestled in the West Australian bush, the New Norcia art gallery holds a collection so impressive it could easily be mistaken for a salon in Paris or Madrid. This remarkable cultural outpost blends centuries-old European masterpieces with a significant collection of modern Australian works, creating a unique artistic pilgrimage site.
A European Legacy in the Australian Bush
The gallery's walls feature an extraordinary array of Italian and Spanish Old Masters from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Many of these works were personally selected by New Norcia's founder, Bishop Salvado, during his European travels to garner support for the early mission, while others arrived as gifts. This creates an unexpected cultural bridge between remote Western Australia and the historic art centres of Europe.
Among these treasures, one piece holds particular significance. The Head of an Apostle, a drawing attributed to the circle of Raphael and his pupil Giulio Romano, is the only artwork of its kind in Australia. Commissioned by Pope Leo X in the 16th century as a preparatory work for a Vatican tapestry, it depicts the upturned face of a young man with unruly blond curls.
A Modern Australian Counterpoint
While the historical collection is stunning, the gallery's contemporary holdings provide a powerful dialogue with the past. Since the mid-1980s, New Norcia has systematically built a collection of around 160 Australian artworks. This forms the country's only known public collection dedicated to Judaeo-Christian themes, featuring renowned artists like Robert Juniper, Pro Hart, Howard Taylor, Miriam Stannage, and Roy de Maistre.
A bold, abstract 1958 composition by Harold Frederick Weaver Hawkins, depicting Christ on the cross, immediately captures attention with its vivid blues and golds. Nearby, Robert Juniper's Last Supper, Lord is it I? from 1958 stands out. Using a muted palette of browns, creams, rust reds, and pale blue, Juniper created a cubist-inspired work rich with intricate detail.
Pro Hart's The Miracle of New Norcia vividly portrays a founding story of the mission. The painting depicts a bushfire threatening the early settlement's harvest. As monks battle the flames, Bishop Salvado holds up a painting of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Hart's energetic brushstrokes capture the ferocity of the fire at the very moment the wind changes direction, miraculously saving the mission.
Celebrating Contemporary Biblical Art
Visitors should also explore the neighbouring building, which hosts works from the Mandorla Art Award. This biennial, nationally open fine art award is dedicated to Biblical themes and has become a significant event in Australia's religious art scene, further cementing New Norcia's status as a focal point for this genre.
The New Norcia gallery offers a profound cultural experience, seamlessly connecting European artistic heritage with powerful Australian interpretations of faith and story. It proves that world-class art can be found in the most unexpected places, waiting to be discovered just a short drive from Perth.
